Vinyl Resurgence?

[Thad E Ginathom]

Oh sure...

But the point was that the advent of CDs might have improved the quality of the the fewer LPs being made. The advent of MP3 probably didn't have any effect on the manufacture of CDs, but it might well have had a bad effect on the mixing. People like their music to sound like they are used to it sounding

 

[Dr.Bass]

Two things I completely agree with:

1. mp3 rules in India and possibly used highest in the world.

2. There is a serious resurgence of Vinyl possibly serious enough to carry this wave for another couple of decades but it is all happening among the audiophile community and that too only serious audiophiles. So one could see how niche it becomes but still the community is big enough to support this entire movement (I believe).

As far as India is concerned, cassettes were the last successful physical media that was widely accepted and used. CDs never made it, why should we even judge vinyl sales here ?

 

[kuruvilajacob]

As more and more people have started listening to records, I am sure demand for records are bound to increase. The availability of quality records is diminishing and the new 180 gm records cannot be bought by everyone. Yes, the market is still very small but it has a future

 

[Saket]

Surely the trend looks like audiophiles are the major buyers of vinyls presently...fad- just a very small percentage. That makes sure that prices of vinyls are not coming down in near future as the synonym of this analog hobby is being a spendthrift!

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

This is not a criticism of vinyl or vinyl buyers, but... it has absolutely nothing to offer to those who are not specifically fascinated by the medium or attached to and appreciative of its sound.

--- It's big (although this does mean decent record covers).

--- It's fragile. It is relatively non portable.

--- The associated equipment is either cheap+nasty or, for even an entry level "proper" turntable/cartridge/stylus, quite expensive.

Remember, its mass-market we are talking about here, not those of us that get a certain kick from hifi-spending. Turntables are not cheap and integrated amps no long have phono-in as standard. All this at a period in time when people are moving their music onto their PCs.

No resurgence. If there were, the quality would probably drop with the increased pressing quantities. It would probably be a bad thing (in every way except price) for the hifi vinyl lovers.

 

[hydra]

I'd tend to agree with Thad here. Any resurgence has so far been limited to the serious audiophiles only. That is, people who are willing to spend a lot of money (whether they can really afford it or not) on buying vinyl records.

In addition to easy (and reasonably priced) availability of LPs, for mass-market appeal, there needs to be good quality playback equipment (TT/Cart/Phonostage) available that's cheap and completely plug and play.

I love the analogue sound and I've invested quite a bit (for my income level) on playback kit and on vinyl. I still don't have that many records, I don't foresee my being able to buy a lot of records at the current prices of new analogue masters (the only kind that makes sense). Not to mention that I'll need to order online (most likely from abroad) if I want to have a reasonable selection, though I stay in city that's the commercial hub of my state. Good used records are not exactly easy to find, and even getting them once you locate a source is a bit of a pain -- it involves travel and additional expense. Even for somebody like me who really loves his music, it is a bit too much additional time to spend just on acquiring music. I do have other serious hobbies that need time and some money too.

Every time I look at my TT, I wonder "Should I have?", but every time I listen to a record I grin and nod to myself and say "Great buy there, my man. Money well spent".

We'll be able to call it a resurgence only when:
1) At least perhaps 80% of all new music comes out on vinyl, mastered from the original analogue master.
2) Nearly of this new music is available on vinyl off the shelf (at least to the extent that CDs are) in at least one major store in at least every mini-metro level city.
3) Prices come down to a price of CD + 20% level at least.
4) At least the entry level TTs from major manufacturers are easily available in every mini-metro level city.
5) All major manufacturers of amps start adding a phono stage to most of their amps.

I'm sure analog is here to stay among the enthusiasts, and perhaps the availability of music on vinyl will improve somewhat. But I doubt if vinyl will ever be popular in a mass-market way, even to the extent that CDs are.

 

[pksnathan]

Friends,
It is good to see that vinyl records have started attracting audiophiles in a slow and steady manner. Prices will come down only if they are mass produced.If only major players in this field like Saregama etc make an effort this will happen.I am sure there will be a niche market for this.
Sincerely,
pksnathan

 

[prem]

Hi Hydra


All new music is normally digitally recorded and stored on a digital master. Practically no one does analogue recordings these days.

 

[bollywoodlpman]

I dont see it happening in near future or ever. Belive me, in our mp3 genration, most people of my age dont even know what a vinyl record is,let alone younger population.

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Every time I look at my TT, I wonder "Should I have?"

I've had mine longer than I've owned a CD player, so the question doesn't arise! The thing is that I no longer think about upgrading it.

As Prem is saying, analogue masters? thing of the past. Phono input? Thing of the past. There was a time when even a one-piece heap of plastic "sound-centre" might well have had a phono input! In fact, the early "sound centres" were a deck and an amp: the extra was the cassette deck. This is all history.

But, even though I'm not a vinyl enthusiast, whenever I dream about the unexpected fortune, and my den in a big house, there is absolutely no doubt that the hifi will include a deck . In my dreams, as they say

 

[tek]

I'm excited about Neil Young's upcoming Pono music service, which is claiming to bring high resolution digital music to a consumer audience. Google it, I think it's quite interesting if he can pull it off.

 

[reubensm]

talking about the resurgence of Vinyl, i once wondered why NDTV's gadget guru features all kinds of electronics (including AV) but surprisingly leaves out 2-channel audio. The only time I did see something feature was a Norge amp on the gadget of the year list in 2009. I once wrote to NDTV regarding this and got a reply stating that the channel caters to public interest and 2-channel audio listening was highly niche and did not have mass market appeal. Their surveys apparently showed that digital audio protables, combo systems with multi functionality and PC based audio was the order of the day. All I can say is "Sad but True" in the Indian context!! Also, I seriously doubt Rajiv Makhni and Vikram Chandra's capability for reviewing these products as most of their reviews are made up of inputs from the literature accompanying the gadget and google searches. Long ago, I saw an episode wherein Rajiv Makhni reviewed the Jamo Reference Dipolar loudspeaker R907 at a New Delhi electronics expo. Sounded like he knew nothing about loudspeakers. Both Rajiv and Vikram are typical journalists after all!!

 

[just4kix]

I would love to buy vinyls even though I am no serious audiophile. But I won't be able to mass buy at Rs. 500+ levels

Sent from my GT-I9100G using Tapatalk 2

 

[abhijitwadekar]

Hi,
I don't really see the vinyl resurgence lasting for long. Just take a look at recently released hindi LPs. I have bought almost all recent releases, but the new lot that was released last month has a price of Rs 1200 on it which really put me off from buying it. I wont buy them just as a mark of protest against the price that they have put on this LPs. If the prices keep going up this way, no way is this so called vinyl resurgence going to sustain. Even if we get cheap TTs and rest of equipment i dont see people buying this overpriced LPs.

Regards
Abhijit

 

[sidvee]

Not sure what LP pricing is in the US now, but when I was into spinning Vinyl '04-'06, Jazz (the genre I prefer) records were very expensive about $30-$50. Even used, I could hardly find them below $25 (where as rock/pop were available from $1). Consequently this is one of the factors that led to my abandoning the format. And from the posts I am seeing here it appears Indian pricing is heading the same way.
Cheers,
Sid

 

[Rajiv]

Hi,

I don't really see the vinyl resurgence lasting for long.

I think so too.

Garrard 401 in DIY slate plinth, Scheu Classic 12" with EMT TSD 15,Marantz CDP 6003, Proj. Xpression III, Lyrita phono stage,pre and GM70 power amp,Tannoy Monitor Gold 12" in GRF cabs.

That is a lovely system. I would love to listen to it .

Regards
Rajiv

 

[murali_n]

Hi all,

Recently ordered the BAD album Vinyl by Michael Jackson from Flipkart, it was a SONY import edition. I had ordered it in the hope that it will sound better than the CD, but to my dismay, it sounded no where near Audiophile. Though the master is Digitally recorded, it seems the Vinyl was cut using a bad sounding cassette tape. No doubt the Vinyl lived upto its album title, but I became poorer by Rs.1350/-

Do we call this Vinyl resurgence?

N.Murali

 

[Hiten]

but to my dismay, it sounded no where near Audiophile.

I have original 'Bad' Album. It is digitally recorded as well. But some clever technique is used in making that album. The Inner sleeve says so. More info here from the man himself...
>The Acusonic Recording Process< - Gearslutz.com
Regards

 

[arj]

This is exactly how the Music industry killed itself every time. overpricing, over control and Greed.
unfortunately the artists themselves get very little.

moment they saw signs of a resurgence..you get short terms view by release of pathetic recordings..and very soon people will blame the format instead of the content.. Making a LP recording from a CD master is only going to make a Worse sounding LP

 

[jls001]

Hi all,

Recently ordered the BAD album Vinyl by Michael Jackson from Flipkart, it was a SONY import edition. I had ordered it in the hope that it will sound better than the CD, but to my dismay, it sounded no where near Audiophile. Though the master is Digitally recorded, it seems the Vinyl was cut using a bad sounding cassette tape. No doubt the Vinyl lived upto its album title, but I became poorer by Rs.1350/-

Do we call this Vinyl resurgence?

N.Murali

I have also noted my disgust and dissatisfaction here.

And I spent even more than you:lol: buying from a brick and mortar outlet.

This is regression of vinyl